Method of forming an ornamental chain



July 7, 1959 A. JAEGER 2,893,200

METHOD OF FORMING AN ORNAMENTAL CHAIN vQriginal Filed Oct. 17, 1956 v 1kg -J I I INVENTOR. 20 .flc/o/f' JZ-zege/ ATTORNEYS.

kdfitetes Pa ent Adolf Iaeger, Cranston, R.I., assignor to Federal ChainCompany, a corporation of Rhode Island Original application October 17,1956, Serial No. 616,437. Divided and this application December 21,1956, Serial No. 629,971

3 Claims. (Cl. 59-35 This invention relates to an ornamental chain of atype which is worn on the person and is a division of my applicationSer. No. 616,437, filed October 17, 1956.

Heretofore, an ornamental chain of the type here referred to had each ofits links made of wire with the ends of the wire forming a centerportion partially filling the links between the connected end. The linksare wider than their thickness; and in order that the chain might layflat, the links were curbed or had the end portions of the loops twistedfor this purpose. In some cases, it was thought desirable to flatten thelinks; and to do this the links were either rolled or struck in aswedging machine in such a way that not only was the center portion ofthe links flattened, but also the end connecting curbed portions wereflattened, and this flattening of the end portions would so distort thecurbing that the links would not hang straight when suspended.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a chain which willhang straight when suspended.

Another object of this invention is to flatten the center portions ofthe links without distorting the curbed end and connecting portions.

Another object of the invention is to arch the filled-in center portionsso as to provide some convexity on the surface and thus enhance thereflected light therefrom and provide highlights.

Another object of the invention is to form a firmer and stronger linkthan heretofore.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certainnovel features of construction as will be more fully described andparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan 'view of a series of links constructed inaccordance with this invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of one of these links on a larger scale;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of a series of links, each of which isformed of round wire in the initial formation by a machine;

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the links shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the links of Figures 3 and 4 having beenstruck in the center portion;

Figure 6 is a side elevation of one of the links shown in Figure 5 withthe anvil and hammer shown in striking relation on the link for theflattening or deforming of the center portion thereof; and

Figure 7 is a plan view of one of the two parts of a link of Figure 3.

With reference to the drawings, 10 designates a length of chaincomprised of five links as shown in this figure each of identicalconstruction, the same being formed by a series of steps performed bymachine'operations.

In Figure 3 I show a link designated generally 11 formed of twoidentical parts 12 as shown in Figure 7. These parts 12 each comprise aU-shaped end portion 13 with one leg 14 bent as at 15 to dispose its endporice tion 16 in a hook shape, while itsother leg 17 is bent as at 18to provide a portion 19 also in' hook shape. The hook portion 18, 19 issuperimposed upon the hook portion 15, 16. The part 12 as just describedis combined with a part now designated 12' .as shown in Figure 3 whichis of identical construction to that just described and designated 12,except it is disposed in opposite relation so that its U-portion 13 hasits arched end in the opposite direction from that of the archedU-portion 13 of the part 12 and is turned over so that the hooks 15', 16will be uppermost and will interlock with the hooks 18, 19 as seen inFigure 3, and the hooks 18', 19' will interlock with the hooks 15, 16which is somewhat hidden in Figure 3.

The wire which forms these link parts is shown as round in cross sectionand will be spaced somewhat along the interlocking hook portions whichfill in the center portion of the loop having the U-shaped ends 13 and13' with the legs extending therefrom. In order that this chain which isof a width greater than its thickness, as may be seen from a comparisonof Figures 3 and 4, may lie flat or hang evenly when suspended, I curbor twist the portions 13 and 13' as shown at 20 and 20 in Figure 4 whichcauses this chain to hang evenly when suspended.

It is desirable that the filled-in center portion be furtherembellished, and I have caused this center portion to be struck in sucha way that the center portion only is deformed. This may be accomplishedas shown in Figure 6 by supporting each chain link individually in itsconnected relation in the chain on an anvil 21 striking the same with ahammer 22.

The anvil and hammer are of such a dimension lengthwise of the chainthat they 'will not touch the curbed end portions 20 and 20' as shown inFigure 6. The shaping is also such that there will be a convex surface22 formed on each side of the chain; and as the stock is flattened, thespaces between the hook ends 16' and 19 or 15 and 18 will be filled inas shown by the abutting edges 23-, 24 and 25 in Figure 5. At the samesame time, the end portions 26 and 27 will be broadened to be largerthan the neck portions 28 and 29 to provide a good lock of these endportions one with the other. The convexity of the surface 22 also servesto present highly ornamental highlights and a reflecting surface whichis exceedingly attractive.

With the chain curbed as shown in Figure 4, even in the round wire thelinks will not pull apart because the curbing prevents the hooked endsfrom sliding one on the other. However, by reason of the flattening ofthese hooks as shown in Figure 5 so as to provide the enlarged ends aninterlock of the ends is provided and a much stronger chain and thecurbing need not be relied upon for preventing the attached parts 12 and12' of a link from separating.

In order to draw a chain as shown in Figure 3 through a machine, Iprovide a feed whch will draw the chain between the anvil 21 and thehammer 22 step by step, placing a link upon the anvil at each feedingstep after which the hammer descends to shape the link as abovedescribed. Feeding operations may be by means of a hook which engagesone of the links and moves it the length of one of the links of thechain forwardly or in any other desired manner of feeding.

I claim:

1. The method of forming a chain of U-shaped wire portions whichcomprises bending each of the legs of each U-portion into a hook,forming said hooks in spaced substantially parallel planes, providingtwo U-portions, overlapping said U-portions with a hook on one portioninterlocked with a hook of the other portion in one plane and the otherhook on said one portion interlocked with the other hook on the saidother portion in a second plane substantiallyparal'lelto said one plane;whereby interlocks in superimposed relation are formed, curbing thebights of the U-portions and striking the center hooks to flatten andspread them widthwi'se-of the links into locking relation.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the striking is'of sufiicient force tospreadthe Wires of the center portion into firm contact andprovide asubstantially surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS BallouFeb. 9, 1897 Brow-n July12, 1932 McKinnon- Dec. 3, 1940

